This week the player spotlight shines on athlete and dancer Alex Mejia.

This young lady covers the center-forward position for the Thunderstorms out of the Newark House Soccer League. She's been playing soccer for seven years now. Alex loves to compete and she sees soccer as offering a level of competition that's perfect for her. Mejia plays and practices a total of five days a week during season.

Dancing is her other specialty. Performing lyrical modern, lyrical jazz and hip hop are fun ways for Alex to keep her athletic edge. She finds dancing five days a week something to look forward to and she does this at Mission Dance & Performing Arts in Fremont.

As if all of this activity wasn't enough for her, Mejia participates in dance competitions and jogs a few times a week in her pursuit to stay in top condition and to perfect her skills.

Alex is 13 and currently attends Centerville Jr. High School. Working as a teacher's assistant in Spanish, she looks ahead to graduate from USF with a goal to become a firefighter someday soon.

Her hobbies are watching live musicals on TV and rooting for her beloved Oakland Raiders on any Sunday that she can find the time. Aside from quiet time and TV, hanging out with her friends at Mr. Mikey's Country Store in Niles can be a whole other pastime in the summer months.

Mainly a vegetarian, Alex likes Mexican food and loves the tostada and burrito selection at Chipotle restaurant. She also says that Mr. Mikey's has the largest variety of Arizona Tea; that and the sour punch straws keep her coming back there for more.